Franklin police find homemade bombs at subdivision homes

Franklin police and fire personnel found 11 homemade explosive devices in the Polk Place subdivision after one such device injured a resident when it exploded Monday night.

Shortly before 9 p.m. Monday, emergency crews responded to the 200 block of Polk Place Drive after a 37-year-old man answered his doorbell to find what he thought was trash on his front steps, according to Franklin police. The apparent trash was actually a plastic bottle filled with household chemicals that exploded once the man took it inside his home.

The man was transported to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. No other injuries were reported.

Members of the Franklin police and fire departments later found a total of 11 similar devices left outside of five different homes in the Polk Place subdivision. Ten detonated on their own, and a Tennessee Highway Patrol bomb squad responded to detonate one of the devices.

Franklin police said anyone who finds a suspicious bottle should leave it where it is, move people away from it and call 9-1-1.

Detectives are working to identify a suspect or suspects who would likely face felony charges, police said.

Anyone with information about this case can call Crime Stoppers at 615-794-4000 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Anonymous tips can also be sent to Franklin Police via text message by texting the keyword 615fpd, along with the tip to 847411.